The proscribed A’chik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC), presently under a ceasefire with New Delhi for the last five years, has submitted a fresh memorandum to the Centre demanding creation of “Garoland Autonomous Council” for the Garos in the three districts of Garo Hills with adequate powers and direct funding.
Recently, the tribal Garo militant outfit climbed down with its demand after the Centre urged the ANVC to give up its demand for a separate “Garoland”, which would further divide North Eastern states into smaller states.
The Joint Secretary (Home) in-charge of North East, Naveen Verma had made it clear that if ANVC wanted a rehabilitation package, it has to leave aside its demand for Garoland.
“Though we submitted a memorandum towards the creation of a separate Garoland state to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, we understand such a move is not possible until the formation of a State Reorganisation Commission,”ANVC spokesman Arist Sengsrang Sangma said.
Under the ‘Garoland Autonomous Council’, the ANVC wants rapid economic and educational growth, preservation of the cultural identity of the Garos, preservation of their land rights and socio-ethnic identity of its people and to speed up the infrastructure development in the GAC areas
The militant outfit, which entered into a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the state and Union governments on July 2004, raised their demand during the meeting with top Union Home Ministry officials here. Political talks between the outfit and the Union government is scheduled to begin this month.